State study focuses on mumps vaccineLITTLE ROCK -- The Arkansas Department of Health is studying whether the mumps vaccine is less effective against the type of mumps contracted by hundreds of people during the past three months of an outbreak first announced in August. It is reported that the department has counted nearly 1,600 confirmed or suspected cases of mumps as of Nov. 22. Many of the cases have been in the northwestern part of the state. The Centers for Disease Control ...

ATU String Band to perform tonightThe Arkansas Tech University String Band will offer a concert featuring folk and folk rock acoustic music tonight. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Witherspoon Auditorium, which is located at 407 West Q St. in Russellville. Admission will be free and open to the public. Dr. Deborah Barber, associate professor of music, serves as director of the Arkansas Tech String Band. She said that the performance will include "friends and local s...

Ash trees face extinction in Arkansas due to invasive beetleLITTLE ROCK — Forestry experts are hoping a stingerless type of wasp will help control an invasive beetle that's killing ash trees in Arkansas. The emerald ash borer, a native to Asia, feeds on the trees, eventually killing them. It's blamed for killing tens of millions of ash trees since being discovered in the U.S. in 2002. It was first found in Arkansas in 2014 and is now confirmed in a dozen counties in south-central and southern Arkansas ...

Equestrian Zone receives $3,000An organization geared towards helping patients with varying disabilities walk and talk through equestrian therapy, received a grant from Veritas Independent Partners (VIP), a Conway based brokerage firm staffed by former Atkins residents. The Equestrian Zone received a donation of $3,000 on Nov. 23 to go toward the Raise the Roof Project. The Raise the Roof project is a fundraiser for a 100 by 200 foot arena cover and walkway to get to the ar...

Obituary: Cleo SummersCleo Jethero “Jerry” Summers, age 75, of Dover, died Sunday. The graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec.1, 2016, at Rest Haven Memorial Park and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. Visitation will be from 5-6 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. The full obituary will run in a future edition of The Courier and online at www.shinnfuneral.com

Obituary: Vernelle HamptonDARDANELLE — Vernelle J. Hampton, age 85, of Dardanelle, died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, at Johnson County Regional Medical Center. She was born Oct. 5, 1931, at Slaty Crossing to the late John Oscar and Hettie Pearson Standridge. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert Gene Hampton and her brothers and sisters, Joe, Melvin, Audrey, Boyd, Loyd, Lueller, Doyn and Delmer. Survivors include her son, Kevin Hampton and wife Car...

Obituary: Michael CrossCLINTON— Michael Paul William Cross, 28, of Russellville, formerly of Clinton, passed away Nov. 25, 2016, in Little Rock. Michael was born July 20,1988, in Conway, to Michael Lewis and Kelly Emerson Cross. Michael was a talented musician who was self-taught on many instruments and held a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Production. He was the first to play the guitar in the Clinton Marching Band. Michael was also a songwriter and went by the name “R...

Obituary: Ronnie PruittATKINS — Ronnie Roy Pruitt, 64, of Judsonia, passed from this life Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, at The Crossing at Riverside in Searcy. He was born Sept. 4, 1952, in Hector, son of the late Hersle and Cleta Voss Pruitt. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Hersle Wayne Pruitt. He is survived by two daughters, Rhonda and husband Zenon Lumbreras of Hector, and Rebecca and husband Heath Davis of Dover; hi...

Nupp: Perfect score on ACTWhen Sylvia Nupp, a senior at Russellville High School, saw her perfect 36 score on the American College Test (ACT), she thought she was dreaming. “I checked the scores at midnight when they were first posted, and I really thought I fell asleep doing calculus,” Nupp said. “So, my initial reaction was that I was just having a dream. After that though I was pretty ecstatic.” The perfect ACT score was her second attempt at the test. Her first att...

ATV wreck kills 1, leaves 1 injuredA wreck involving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and Dodge Durango on Nov. 26 in Clarksville left one injured and one dead. The wreck happened at approximately 3:05 p.m. on State Highway 64 at the junction of Stegall Road. According to a police report, the driver of an ATV, with one passenger, pulled out of a business parking lot onto State Highway 64 eastbound and into the path of a 2003 Dodge Durango, also traveling east. The driver of the ATV...

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COURIER STAFF REPORTSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Little Rock police announce $20,000 reward in child's deathLITTLE ROCK — Little Rock police have announced a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction for whoever fatally shot a 2-year-old girl earlier this week. Police announced Friday that an anonymous donor gave $10,000 for the reward, and the city of Little Rock matched that donation. Authorities say the girl was riding in a vehicle Tuesday night when she was struck by gunfire. The girl was taken to a Little Rock hospi...

Obituary: Alice BatesAlice Margaret Bates, 91, was born Feb. 6,1925, and died Nov. 22, 2016, in Russellville. She graduated from Clarksville High School, retired from the Fabric Department of the Clarksville Wal-Mart and was a member of the Clarksville Quilt Guild. She was preceded in death by her mother, Gladys Dickerson; and step-father, Odus Dickerson. She is survived by a sister, Sue Nell Eichenburger of Russellville; two nephews, Earl David and Bob Eichenberg...

Obituary: Melba GriffithMENA — Melba I. Lacefield Griffith, 80, of Russellville passed away Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, in Russellville. Melba was born Nov. 12, 1936, in Mena to the late Taylor Odell Lacefield and Mary Hilda Goodrich. Melba was married to the late David Griffith, Sr. on Dec. 5, 1957 in Poteau, Okla. She worked in nursing homes in Poteau and Russellville and was of the Baptist faith. Melba was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to all who kne...

Obituary: Dorothy PapasanDANVILLE — Dorothy Papasan, 61, of Danville passed away Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, at Mitchell’s Nursing Home in Danville. She was born Feb. 2, 1955, in Danville to Tom and Jonnie Sue Hancock Hall. She was a retired manager of Dollar General in Danville. She was preceded in death by her father, Tom Hall; sister, Beverly Tilmon; husband, Bill Lovejoy; grandparents, John and Myrtle Hancock, Jim and Lottie Hall; and father-in-law, Alvin Papasan. Surv...

Obiutary: Kenneth NealATKINS — Kenneth Neal Russell, 71, of Atkins passed away Saturday, Nov. 26 at his home. He was born Nov. 4, 1945, in Russellville, son of the late William Cletus and Hattie Mae Reynolds Russell. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Wilene Russell; five brothers, Bill, Bob, Charles, James, and Cletus; and three sisters, Ruby, Ruth, and Elaine. He is survived by two sisters, Jean Roach and Mary Sue Byrd; and a brother, Larry Walker...

obituary: Bill NewsomWilliam Eldon “Bill” Newsom, 81, of Russellville, who was editor of The Courier for 37 years, passed away at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center on November 26, 2016. He was born Nov. 15, 1935, at Beebe, the son of Eldon Newsom and the former Mary Appoline Smoot. Newsom retired at the end of 1997, completing a 45-year career that included three years as editor of the weekly Morrilton Democrat and five years at the Paragould Daily Press where ...

Wall wraps up 41 years of serviceDonna Wall said during Tuesday's retirement reception inside the Pope County Courthouse that she has met so many good people over the last 41 years of public service. "God has been good to me," she told a room packed with family members and fellow employees. "Thank you for making sure our family could come. All my family is here, and we are enjoying it. I have a wonderful family, and I am truly blessed. "The people I have met have been so kind...